How to show the hidden files in Mac

How to show the subconscious files in Mac

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple doesn't make it easy to figure out how to show the hidden files in Mac computers. In fact, making these files visible all the time requires poking around in the bowels of your Mac — in the Terminal.

Fortunately, we've got all the details you need, and we're not even going to ask what yous're doing poking around inside the subconscious directories of your computer. Though to exist honest, we'll annotation that poking effectually in hidden files may be more problem than information technology's worth if you're not a power user.

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Apple gets criticized for making it difficult to tinker with Macs, but we become it for showing subconscious files. Deleting the wrong one could send your system into a globe of injure. But for those who take learned that something in their Library directory, or another subconscious nook or cranny in their Mac, we've got the details you lot need to know.

Hither's what yous need to learn for how to evidence subconscious files on a Mac.

The system Library, which contains a lot of files that you may want to erase when trouble-shooting an app, isn't entirely visible when you lot go poking around.

how to show the hidden files in mac - Hidden macOS files — (Image credit: Apple)

Open Finder
Navigate to your storage root directory (likely Macintosh HD)
Click Shift + Control + .

There's likewise the user directory Library, which is hidden by default. You lot tin either open information technology apace by holding Choice when opening Go from the Finder menu bar or use the to a higher place keyboard shortcut to make it visible.

how to show the hidden files in mac - menu bar — (Image credit: Apple tree)

Open Terminal (either via Applications > Utilities or hit Command + Infinite and type "Terminal")
Enter the following lines of lawmaking, i at a time, hitting return afterwards:

how to show the hidden files in mac - in terminal — (Image credit: Apple tree)

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles true

Killall Finder

To contrary this, follow those two steps again, just change "true" in line i to "fake".

In that location's ane more than place where Macs hide files: inside of programs. Again, this is not for fun, but for getting things washed.

how to show the hidden files in mac - open app contents — (Image credit: Apple)

Correct-click an application
Select Show Contents

So, now you've got everything you demand to know to find the files that Apple tree doesn't think everyone needs to come across hands. Retrieve, though: you lot don't view all files with the intent to articulate up infinite. Those hidden files are hidden for a reason, and many are important to your system — ensuring it runs properly in the background.

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Henry is a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past vi-plus years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's likewise covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other manufacture veterans.